Cigar



March 30, 1937. ADAlR 2,075,493

CIGAR Filed Dec. 18. 1935 Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE Claims.

Cigars are commonly smoked either by gripping the butt ends between the teeth of the smoker, or by inserting them in holders which are in turn gripped between the teeth so that the teeth and 5 the lips of the smoker do not come in contact with the tobacco. Resort is had to the use of holders because there are definite objections to the other method; but, in obviating some of these objections, the use of the holder introduces other,

0 perhaps equally serious, objections. consequent ly, there has long been sought a means that will permit a cigar to be enjoyed to the fullest extent, without subjecting the smoker to the annoyances or disadvantages resulting from either of the two aforesaid methods of smoking. So far as Ii am aware, however, no satisfactory means for accompiishing this result has heretofore been developed and no such means has heretofore been available to the smoker.

The present invention has for its primary object to make possible the commercial manufacture and distribution of cigars in a form which will permit a cigar to be smoked in the same manner as an ordinary cigar, but with all of the advantages usually hoped for from the use of a holder and without any of the disadvantages or objections resulting from the use of a holder.

in carrying out my invention, I encase the butt end or tip of the cigar in a very thin, flexible, waterproof sheathing which is imperforate except for a small opening in the closed end, to permit the escape of smoke. If this sheathing be in close contact with or be drawn tightiy across the end oi the cigar, there is apt to be suficient transfor of liquid between the cigar and the mouth of the smoker to cause what may be termed tobacco juice to enter the smokers mouth. In accordance th one feature of my invention, I therefore so fashion the sheathing or the cigar end, or both, as to provide a pocket of appreciable size within the sheathing and just beyond the end of the cigar. Any liquids that are produced by the burn= ing of the tobacco collect in this pocket and do not pass out through the smoke outlet. Also, any small amount of saliva that might enter the sheathing through the smoke outlet would simply collect in the pocket and stay there.

In order that the cigar shall not be pushed so far into the sheathing or cap that no pocket will remain, a positive stop is preferably provided. Since the stop may most conveniently be formed on the cap, the present invention may be said to have as a secondary object the production of 65 a simple and novel sheathing or cap which shall prevent the butt end of a cigar from entering the same too far.

The cost of such a sheathing is small, and the slight increase in cost in the manufacture of a cigar so equipped may be made still smaller by utilizing the sheathing as a part of the protectlve covering which it is now customary to employ around the cigars; thereby effecting a saving in the amount of cellophane or a similar material required for the covering. What is perhaps more important, is that a saving in the amount of material required for the wrapper of the cigar may be effected. Cigar wrappers are usually made from expensive tobaccoes. Since each wrapper must be made from a single leaf, the greater the length of a cigar, the larger the leaf that is required for the wrapper. In accordance with one feature of my invention, the wrapper may be omitted from the top end of the cigar, over a length of as much as three-quarters of an inch, namely throughout that portion of the cigar that is encased with a permanent flexible sheathing. Consequently, a smaller leaf will serve for the wrapper than is the case where the wrapper must be continued to the very end of the cigar.

Not only are savings in material possibie, but by utilizing the sheathing at the butt end of the cigar as a substitute for the corresponding portion of the usual covering, the covering for the remainder of the cigar may be removed much more easily, and therefore without danger of breaking the wrapper, than where the ordinary covering is used.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a cigar embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view, on a much larger scale, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the butt end of the cigar; Fig. 3 is an end view; Fig. 4 is a view of the inner side of a fragment of the flexible cap or sheathing, showing a roughened surface; and Fig. 5 is an elevation, on the same scale as Figs. 2 and 3 of the closed end of a modified tip or sheathing, partly broken away to expose its internal rib or abutment for the tip of the cigar. I

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive of the drawing I have illustrated all of the various main features of my invention, in a single cigar; and, for the sake of brevity, only this particular style of cigar will be described in detail, although it will be understood that some of such features may be used separately from the others.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive of the drawing: A represents a cigar of any usual or suitable construction, the butt end. of which may terminate in any usual fashion. Applied to the butt end of the cigar is a thin cap or sheathing I of flexible, waterproof material which is also preferably elastic. Soft thin rubber is satisfactory for my purpose. This cap or sheathing is of such a length that the lips of the smoker do not come in contact with the tobacco when the cigar is held in the mouth in the usual way; a length of about an inch being usually satisfactory. If the cap be made of the right diameter to require it to stretch somewhat in its application to the cigar, it is not likely to work off during the smoking of the cigar. However, I prefer to cement or paste the cap to the cigar, and thus positively hold it on. For this purpose there may be employed gum such as that with -which the wrappers are fastened at the butt ends of cigars. By coating the butt end of a cigar with suchgum or other suitable wet adhesive, there is provided not only a bonding material, but the wet adhesive acts as a lubricant to facilitate the slipping on of the protective cap.

The parts are so proportioned and the assembly thereof is so made that there remains a deflnite pocket or free space 2 within the cap beyond the end of the cigar. This pocket or free space acts as a reservoir to hold any liquids or juices that may be distilled from the tobacco'or any small amount of saliva that may possibly enter through the smoke outlet from the cap. The smoke outlet may be preformed or it may be cut by the smoker. In any event, before the cigar can be smoked there must be present a small opening 3, leading through material of the cap from the pocket 2, preferably at the axis of the cigar.

In the arrangement shown, the cigar wrapper 4, terminates short of the butt end of the cigar, extending back just far enough to permit the lip of the cap to overlap it and thus serve as an effective continuation thereof.

The presence of the cap on the cigar makes it possible to employ a novel form of cover or casing, which contains less material than the usual type and which can be removed easily and without danger of breaking the wrapper. Thus the casing, of cellophane or other material, may be in the form of a sleeve 5, pinched shut at one end, as at 6; the device being of such length that when the cigar is inserted in the same, the open end of the sleeve reaches only into the vicinity of the inner or open end of the cap instead of continuing on to the end of the cigar. Then, by surrounding the cigar, at the juncture of the cap or sheathing and the cover or casing, with a summed band I, a sealed joint between these two elements is produced. In order to remove the cover or casing all that need be done is to peel off the band I, and then slip the cover or casing off. This band may obviously comprise the identification band or label for the cigar.

If desired, regardless of whether the cigar is provided with a cover or casing, the band 1 may serve to fasten the cap to the cigar and be permitted to remain in place and hold the cap againt displacement while the cigar is being smoked. In that event no adhesive is required between the cap and the cigar.

Whether the wrapper be carried to the extreme end of the cigar or not, the butt end may be blunt and be of the cheroot type, with no wrapper extending over the end face.

If it be desired to provide a stop which will definitely fix the distance to which the cigar may enter the cap or sheathing. an annular internal rib I may be formed on the cap, a short distance from the bottom, as indicated at l in Fig. 5. When the cap is applied to a cigar, the blunt end of the latter will strike the rib and thus apprise the workman that there now remains a pocket or free space of the desired size beyond the end of the cigar.

If it be desired to produce a stronger hold of the cap or sheathing upon the cigar, the inner surface of the former may be roughened as indicated at 9 in Fig. 4. If the roughness comprises sharp ridges or points, these will grip the cigar firmly. Any roughness, however, will insure a better bonding action where the cap or sheathing is applied over a coating of gum or other adhesive on the butt end portion of the cigar.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims. Where I refer to a cigar I mean, of course, any article of the cigar type, whether it be a large or small cigar, of any shape, or a cheroot or stogie.

I claim:

1. The combination with a cigar, of a cap of thin, flexible material fitted over the butt end thereof, said cap having an integral internal pro- Jection on the wall thereof spaced a short distance from the mouth end of the cap and a much greater distance from the other end, said projection engaging the butt end of the cigar thereby to limit the entrance of the cigar into the cap and provide a small free space or pocket within the cap beyond the butt end of the cigar.

2. The combination with a cigar, of a cap of thin, flexible material fltted over the butt end thereof, said cap having an internal annular rib on the wall thereof a short distance inwardly from the mouth end and a much greater distance from the other end, said rib engaging with the butt end of the cigar and serving as a stop to limit the entrance of the cigar into the cap and provide a small free space or pocket within the cap beyond the butt end of the cigar, said rib being of the same material as that of which the main portion of the cap is formed.

3. The combination with a cigar, of a cap of thin, flexible material fitted over the butt end thereof, said cap having an internal annular rib on the wall thereof a short distance inwardly from the mouth end and a much greater distance from the other end, the rib engaging the butt end of the cigar and serving as a stop to limit the entrance of the cigar into the cap, said rib being of greater thickness than the cap.

4. A device for application to a cigar, consis of a cap of thin, flexible material shaped to flt snugly over the butt end of the cigar, said cap having an integral internal projection on the wall thereof, said projection being of such size and shape that it engages with the butt end of the cigar and serves to form a stop to limit the entrance of the cigar into the cap, and said projection being near the mouth end of the cap and remote from the other end, so as to cause a. small free space or pocket to be left in the cap beyond nular rib on the wall a short distance inwardly from the mouth end and a much greater distance from the other end, the rib engaging with the butt end of the cigar and serving as a, stop to limit the entrance of the cigar into the cap.

ARTHUR B. ADAIR. 

